Muhammad Amanullah | The True Post
ALBERTA: Two Correctional Service of Canada officers and a female inmate in their custody were killed in a horrific traffic accident in Alberta after a prisoner transport van collided with a truck.
The crash occurred Thursday on a highway in central Alberta while the officers were returning after completing a prisoner transfer.
Van and Truck Collide
According to the Alberta RCMP, the crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 41, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
Police received a report of the collision shortly before 11:30 a.m.
The crash involved a Correctional Service of Canada minivan and a box truck.
Three People Killed
Police said all three people travelling in the correctional service vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims included a 57-year-old man from Sherwood Park, Alberta, a 25-year-old woman from Winnipeg and a 24-year-old woman from North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
The Correctional Service of Canada later confirmed that the woman from North Battleford was an inmate who was in custody at the time of the crash.
Inmate Identified
The Correctional Service of Canada identified the inmate as Kiara Mooswa, a member of Poundmaker Cree Nation.
According to the agency, Mooswa had been serving a sentence of seven years and 20 days since April 11, 2024. She was being transferred from one correctional facility to another when the crash occurred.
Authorities have not disclosed where the transport vehicle was headed or details about how the inmate was secured inside the vehicle at the time of the collision.
Two Correctional Officers Identified
The Correctional Service of Canada released the names of the two officers who died in the crash on Friday.
They were identified as Nicolae Serban and Ramandeep Kaur Maan.
The agency paid tribute to both officers and expressed condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.
Correctional Service of Canada Commissioner Talal Dakalbab said the tragedy has had a profound impact across the organization, particularly at the Edmonton Institution for Women and throughout the Prairie Region.
Truck Driver Injured
The box truck involved in the collision had one person inside.
According to the RCMP, the truck driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Police said the cause of the crash has not yet been determined and the investigation remains ongoing.
Union Expresses Grief
The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers expressed deep sadness over the deaths of the two correctional officers.
The union said it was mourning the tragic loss of two members who died while serving Canadians and helping protect communities.
The organization said it would not speculate about the circumstances or cause of the collision while the investigation is underway.
The union also asked Canadians to keep the victims’ families, fellow correctional officers and everyone affected by the tragedy in their thoughts and prayers.
Political Leaders Offer Condolences
Condolences also came from political leaders and organizations across Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who died in the crash.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre also expressed his condolences and recognized the work of correctional officers and staff who serve Canadians and help keep communities safe.
The Alberta RCMP also extended its condolences to the families and loved ones of all three people who lost their lives.
Investigation Continues
Authorities are continuing to investigate the deadly collision.
The RCMP is working to determine the exact circumstances that led to the crash and what factors may have contributed to the collision.
The Correctional Service of Canada is also reviewing the death of the inmate, who was in federal custody at the time of the accident.
Officials say the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy will become clearer as the investigation progresses.
